Senior defensive back Chavon Mackey is today's #BrickByBrick player spotlight.

UND Football #BrickByBrick: Day 13

Courtesy: UNDsports.com
Release: 08/13/2013

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Each day of fall camp, the staff at UNDSports.com will put together a daily report and feature a student-athlete in its #BrickByBrick countdown. Stay tuned to the official website, Instagram (UNDFootball) and Twitter (@UNDFootball) for all the up-to-date information leading up to the season opener vs. Valparaiso on Aug. 29.

Notes- Two-a-day practices returned with a full pads practice in the morning and shells at night.- No-huddle and hard counts were a focus throughout the day, as the offense worked to get faster and the defense adjusting their alignments.- As with new schemes are added with each practice, coaches on both sides of the ball seemed equally frustrated and excited at times.- Offensive highlights included a rush by redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Mollberg, that his offensive teammates on the sidelines assured would have gone for six.- Senior wide receiver Blair Townsend brought in a deep ball on a broken coverage as he raced to the end zone.- Junior defensive back Tyrhe Ivery picked off a pass as the afternoon session wound down. Ivery read the play well and stepped in front of fellow defensive back Cam Kuska, who was in tight coverage, for the interception.- Practice No. 2 on the day was cut shorter than usual, as the team moved across town to help coach future UND stars at the Grand Forks Youth Football League.

What's on tap for WednesdayThe team will conduct one full-pad practice during the morning and hold its customary position and special teams meetings in the afternoon and evening.Student-Athlete Spotlight: No. 17 Chavon MackeyIt's hard for senior Chavon Mackey not to exude a big smile on the football field. Now, if you ask him to smile for a head shot, you're probably asking too much.

He wouldn't really get into his reasoning, but you can be assured that there is some psychology behind it. Most of Mackey's smiles come after he lays out a defender with a big hit.

"I don't really talk a lot on the field. I just smile a lot," Mackey said. "That makes guy's mad when you make a play and just smile at them. So, that is what I usually like to do. I wear my clear mouthpiece, so when I smile they can see my pearly whites."

Mackey may have a few more opportunities to smile on the field this seaosn with his move to safety.

"This is a different fall camp because I am all over the place this year," he said. "I'm playing some corner, inside at the slot and at safety most of the time, so I'm kind of the utility guy in the defensive backfield.

"It's actually playing to my strengths. It's what I do. I like to move around and play all over the place. I don't like to just line up and guard somebody. I like to be all around the ball and make more plays. That is what they have me doing this year."

Playing safety is something that Mackey is used to and comfortable doing.

"I get to be around the ball more at safety and make more plays. I played safety in high school," he added. "My (high school) coach wanted me to be in the middle of the field, so I could make more plays and that's what I'm doing here now."

As for the psychologing behind some of his antics, Mackey said it's the profession he wants to pursue when his playing days are over.

"I actually want to get my master's degree in psychology. I'm minoring in psychology, but I wish I had majored in it. I really like psychology and want to see where that makes me. I like messing with people's heads."

"It makes them think, 'what is wrong with this guy, he is smiling at me?', 'what's he about to do?', then if I hit them hard, they think I'm kind of crazy. So, I like to smile."

Mackey decided to come to UND because the coaches stuck with him and he is glad that he made that choice. "The coaches were true to their word. They did not play mind games with me like the other schools," he added.

With his time winding down here in the Peace Garden State, Mackey will miss certain things about the place he has called home for the past four years.

"The best thing I like about North Dakota is that everybody is chill and everybody is nice," Mackey said. "Everybody speaks to you. You don't have to worry about big city problems.

"Everybody is relaxed and laid back. Most of the time in a big city, people walk around and look like they are mad at the world, but here everybody is nice. That is the one thing I will miss about here."

Fall Camp Schedule

Date

Times (Practice #)

Sat., Aug. 3

9:15 a.m. (1)

Sun, Aug. 4

9:15 a.m. (2)

Mon., Aug. 5

9:15 a.m. (3)

Tues., Aug. 6

9:15 a.m. (4)

Wed., Aug. 7

9:15 a.m. (5)

Thur., Aug. 8

9:15 a.m. (6)

3:15 p.m. (7)

Fri., Aug. 9

9:15 a.m. (8)

Sat., Aug. 10

9:15 a.m. (9)

3:15 p.m. (10)

Mon., Aug. 12

9:15 a.m. (11)

Tues., Aug. 13

9:15 a.m. (12)

3:15 p.m. (13)

Wed., Aug. 14

9:15 a.m. (14)

Thurs. Aug. 15

9:15 a.m. (15)

3:15 p.m. (16)

Fri., Aug. 16

9:15 a.m. (17)

Sat., Aug. 17

9:15 a.m. (18)

3:15 p.m. (19)

Mon., Aug. 19

9:15 a.m. (20)

Tues., Aug. 20

9:15 a.m. (21)

3:15 p.m. (22)

Wed., Aug. 21

9:15 a.m. (23)

Thur., Aug. 22

9:15 a.m. (24)*

Fri., Aug. 23

9:15 a.m. (25)*

Sun., Aug. 25

3:15 p.m. (26)*

Mon., Aug. 26

2:30 p.m. (27)*

Tues., Aug. 27

3:25 p.m. (28)*

Wed., Aug. 28

4 p.m. (29)*

* All practices will be at Memorial Stadium except Aug. 24-28* (Alerus Center)

Season TicketsStarting at $75 per seat, season tickets for UND’s 2013 football season are now available. The seven-game home schedule is the best of the DI era and features matchups with four preseason top 10 teams: South Dakota State, Montana, Montana State, and Eastern Washington. Fans can save over 50 percent off single-game ticket prices by reserving your season tickets today. Place your orders by visiting UNDsports.com or calling 701-777-4582.